LAKELAND, Minn. — When high school student Zach Sobiech learned he didn’t have much longer to live, his mother suggested he write letters to tell his loved ones goodbye. Instead, the Minnesota teenager turned to writing music — and his farewell song, “Clouds,” became a YouTube sensation.

Other musicians have covered the tune, and “Clouds” was listed No. 1 on the iTunes Top 10 list on Wednesday — two days after Sobiech died after battling bone cancer.

His mother, Laura Sobiech, said on the CaringBridge website that her son was surrounded by family and his girlfriend when he died at his home in Lakeland, an eastern suburb of St. Paul. He had recently turned 18.

John Hallberg, chief executive of the Children’s Cancer Research Fund, said Wednesday that Sobiech had a positive attitude and approached his diagnosis with strength and grace.

Sobiech was diagnosed with osteosarcoma in 2009. He went through surgeries and chemotherapy, and spent some time cancer-free. But last May, cancer was found in his pelvis and lungs.

Hallberg said proceeds from the sale of the song, and Sobiech’s other music, are going to the Zach Sobiech Osteosarcoma Fund, which Zach wanted set up so that more research could be done to find better ways to treat this form of childhood cancer.

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